VOL. XIX.] VHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. \1^ 



with washed, the lime will all run from you, unless you so order the matter, by 

 engaging with your fingers that it entangle. You would imagine, upon break- 

 ing one of the balls, that there was little or no lime in them, so freely do they 

 moulder and crumble. After it is once engaged thoroughly, it will endure wash- 

 ing: and the clearer you take away the woody parts, the better it is. 



In cutting the tender tops of elder, the latter end of May, there will a stringy 

 juice follow the knife, and draw out in threads, somewhat like bird-lime, or 

 the juice of holly: it seems to be in certain veins just within the circle of teeth 

 or wood. 



We are to examine, for this stringy juice, the roots of the hyacinthus kind, 

 also viscus, viburnum, asphodelus Lancastriae, Ger. narcissus sylv. pallidus calice 

 luteo, C. B. bryonia turn alba turn nigra, filix faemina, &c. 



The dissected veins of many plants afford us oil, that is, such a juice, which 

 being rubbed between the fingers, is not at all clammy, but makes them greasy 

 and glib. Some of it stiffens not, yet it seems to be coagulate and mixed. 

 For instance, the juice of helenium sive enula campana, J. B. taken off with a 

 clean knife, it looks like oil mixed with water, that is, the thin or dilute juice 

 of the plant, springing up out of the wound, together with the oil. Also the 

 fruits of many plants afford oils, as olivse, baccae lauri, hederae, juniperi, cornus 

 faeminae, &c. V. C. P. A. The pulp of most seeds seems to abound with this 

 oily juice, and at some time before their maturity, it is liquid and visible in 

 them, in the form of a milk. For instance, in heleborus niger sylv. adulterinus 

 etiam hyeme virens, J. B. The seeds of this plant, the latter end of May, are 

 very milky, and by insolation are easily formed into cakes, which are yet very 

 oily, and being long kept, and exposed to the flame of a candle they burnt 

 freely, sparkling not very much, and not even then being at all clammy. This 

 milk or juice of the seeds is of a very fiery and stinging nature ; for on cutting 

 the seeds out of the green pods, they strike the eyes as onion is wont to do. 

 Even the tops of the fingers, which are wetted with this juice, will throb and 

 ache, as after extreme cold ; and that pain continues in them for several days ; 

 and at length the skin of the fingers' ends peels off. 



There are yet other oily juices which, after coagulation, harden, and are 

 called rosin ; and such our ivy yields abundantly. Hither also may be referred 

 the juice of juniperus vulgaris baccis parvis purpureis, J. B. which is a hard fat 

 juice, and not much gummy. In the chops of ivy made in March, there 

 exuded a thick matter like yest, yellowish and greasy : it melts like oil between 

 the fingers, not having the least clamminess then perceivable. In process of 

 time it hardens and crusts on the wounds, like coarse brown sugar ; it burns 

 with a lasting flame, and smells very strong. Also on the topmost leaves of 



